The Dallas Cowboys won’t be going to the playoffs, but it played a key role in the postseason race with a 26-24 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
The Cowboys got 283 passing yards from Cooper Rush and a spectacular final-drive turnover to end the Buccaneers’ four-game win streak and knock them out of first place in the NFC South.
Tampa Bay (8-7) rallied late, with Baker Mayfield hitting Ryan Miller for a 13-yard score with 2:36 left and setting up a potential go-ahead field goal or touchdown. After the Bucs quickly snuffed the ensuing Dallas drive, however, the Cowboys’ Daron Bland ripped the ball out of Rachaad White’s hand after a pass reception and recovered the fumble that sealed the win.
By the time Tampa Bay took the field, Atlanta had made a statement of intent in the NFC South. Behind rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in his first NFL start, the Falcons romped past the New York Giants 34-7, then overtook Tampa Bay by virtue of their season sweep of the Bucs and Sunday night’s result.
Dallas (7-8), which had been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff, has won four of its last five.
Dallas scored on five of six drives in the first half to lead 23-14.
Brandon Aubrey bookended the half with 58-yard field goals and Rush racked up 220 yards on 18-for-24 passing to pace the Cowboys. His 10-yard pass up the seam to Jalen Colbert upped the Dallas lead to 10-0 with 2:49 left in the first quarter.
After finally forcing the Cowboys to punt, Tampa Bay Bay cut the deficit to 10-7 on a 2-yard rush by rookie Bucky Irving.
Aubrey’s 49-yarder pushed Dallas ahead 13-7 and Ezekiel Elliott scored his 71st rushing touchdown for the Cowboys, tumbling in from the 1-yard line for a 20-7 advantage.
Mayfield on the next drive found rookie Jalen McMillan for an 11-yard score and a 20-14 game with 48 seconds left until halftime. McMillan has four receiving scores in his last three games.
Aubrey’s 53-yard field goal upped the Dallas lead to 26-14 in the third, but Chase McLaughlin answered for Tampa Bay from 45 yards with 31 seconds left in the quarter.
Mayfield finished 31-for-43 passing for 304 yards and two touchdowns.